In the small town of Williston, South Carolina, the community mourned the sudden loss of Deacon Jerome Williams Sr., a 55-year-old man known for his enduring smile and dedicated service to the Young Rosemary Missionary Baptist Church. On March 5, 2021, Williams passed away unexpectedly in his home. His obituary described his passing as being 'called to his reward abruptly.'
Born in Barnwell County on February 13, 1966, he was a well-respected figure in his community, having served in the SC National Guard, including a tour in the Iraq War, and worked as a correctional officer.
The quiet sorrow that settled over the Williams family would soon be shattered by an even greater tragedy. Just over two months after the Deacon's passing, on May 21, 2021, the Williston Police Department responded to a call at the Williams' residence on Harlford Street. Inside, they discovered the bodies of Deacon Williams' wife, Barbara A. Williams, and their 26-year-old son, Jerome D. Williams. Both had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly focused on a member of their own family. The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division arrested Brandon Antonio Williams, the 28-year-old son of Deacon and Barbara Williams, and charged him with two counts of murder. According to the affidavit, a witness reported that shortly after shots were fired, Brandon Williams was the only person in the residence who was not deceased. Police found three handguns at the scene, two of which Brandon admitted to owning.
Following his arrest, Brandon Williams was booked at the Barnwell County Detention Center and was denied bail. While his arrest brought a suspect to justice for the murders of his mother and brother, online sources and news reports available do not indicate any arrests or name any suspects in connection with the death of Deacon Jerome Williams Sr. two months prior. His passing, while abrupt, is not publicly linked to the violent acts that later claimed the lives of his wife and son.
